Collapsible tube closure



DEC. 20, 1 R g M Q COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSURE Filed March 8, 1952 InventorZmjif yranz M f1 ilomey Patented Dec. 20, 1932 PATENT OFFICE LEO B.INGHRAIVI, OF CEDAR GROVE, WEST VIRGINIA COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CLOSUREApplication filed March 8, 1932. Serial No. 597,573.,

The present invention relates to a closure for collapsible tubes of thetype in widespread use at present for containing substantiallysemi-fluid products such as tooth paste and shaving cream and has forits primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, aclosure embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement ofparts through the medium of which said closure will be caused to open bythe pressure of the contents of the tube thereagainst when said tube issqueezed and which will immediately close when the pressure is removed.

Other objects of theinvention are to provide a tube.elosure of theaforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong,durable, compact, efii-cient and reliable in use and which may bemanufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevationshow- 3 ing a closure constructed in accordance with this invention inposition on atube.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section,

taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 1s a view 1n horizontal sectloin taken substantially on theline 4-4. of Figure 2. 1

Referring now to' the drawing in detail, it will be seen that thereference numeral-1 designates the body portion of a conventionalcollapsible tube, and 2 is the shoulder porr tion of said tube fromwhichthe outlet neck 3 rises.

The embodiment of the inventionwhich is illustrated in the drawingcomprises a cylinder 4 having a reduced neck 5 on its lower r endengaged in the tube neck 3 and secured therein by a key 6. At its lowerend, the

neck '5 terminates in an internal flan e 7. i The cylinder 4 is open atits upper en and said cylinder is provided, at an intermediate point,with'a port 8.

Slidably operable in the cylinder 4 is a valve 9 which controls the port8. Depend- Y ing from the lower endof the valve 9 is a reduced shank 10which, when the valve is in closed position, is engaged in the neck 5.

Extending diagonally into the shank 10 is a slot 11 for connecting oneend of a coil spring 12 to the valve. The other end of the spring 12 isconnected to a bar 13 which'is fixed transversely in the lower portionof the neck 5.

Normally, the valve 9 is yieldingly secured in closed position over theport 8 by the spring 12. However, when the tube 1 is squeezed, thecontents of said tube exert pressure against the lower end of the valve9, thereby actuating said valve. Thus, the valve 9 is actuated touncover the port 8 through which the contents of the tube may now pass.As soon as the pressure is eliminated, the spring 12 returns the valve 9to its original position, thus immediatelyclosing and sealing the tube.

It is believed that the many advantages of a tube closure constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough the preferred em bodiment of the invention is as illustratedand described, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and-arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is 1. A tube closure comprising a cylinder having a portat an intermediate point therein, a reduced neck on one end of thecylinder engageable in the tube for mounting the cylinder in positionthereon, the other end of the cylinder being open, a valve slidablyoperable in the cylinder for controlling the port, a reduced shank onone end of the valve engageable in the neck, a bar mounted transverselyin the neck, and a springhaving one end connected to the bar and itsother end connected to the shank for yieldingly securing the valve inoperative position. i 2. A tube closure comprising a cylinder, a reducedneck on one end of the cylinder en- 5 gageable in the tube for mountingthe cylinder in position thereon, an internal flange on the neck, a barmounted transversely in the neck adjacent the flange, the other end ofthe cylinder being open, said cylinder having a 1 port at anintermediate point therein, a valve slidably operable in the cylinder, areduced shank on one end of the'valve engageable in the neck, and a coilspring having one end connected to the bar and its other end connectedto the shank for yieldingly securing the valve in operative position.

3. A tube closure comprising a cylinder, a .reduced neck on one end ofthe cylinder engageable in the tube for mounting the cylinder inposition thereon, the other end of the cylinder being open, saidcylinder having a port at an intermediate point therein, an internalflange on the neck, a bar mounted transversely in the neck adjacent theflange, means for anchoring the neck in the tube, a valve slidablyoperable in the cylinder for controlling said port, a reduced shank onone end of the valve engageable in the neck, said shank having aninclined slot extending thereinto from one side thereof, and a coilspring having one end connected to the bar and its other end engaged inthe slot for connection with the shank for yieldingly securing the valvein operative position. v In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEO R. INGHRAM.

